Description:

HEINRICH HIMMLER EXHORTS HIS MEN DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
(1900 - 1945) Hitler's Chief of the Gestapo placed in charge of security and responsible for the construction and operation of extermination camps. He chose suicide rather than face a hangman's noose at Nuremburg. Important typed declaration as commander of Heeresgruppe Oberrhein, 1p. 4to., "Field Command Post 31. XII. 1944". In full: "Men of the Armored SS and Police! The Year 1944 is over. Its difficult tests have been overcome by the entire German People. The Year 1945 will bring us decidedly closer to the great German victory and with it, Peace. Nonetheless we will realize that which we promised the Fuhrer at the beginning of the war in 1939: We wish to do more than our duty! Long live our beloved Fuhrer Adolf Hitler!" Two spots and light toning, else very good condition. Very elaborately framed with a photo of Himmler, brass plaque, and the document set in a swivel which reveals the translation beneath, all set into dark brown leather.
On Nov. 26, 1944 the Germans organized the Upper Rhine High Command to defend the upper Rhine, and Hitler placed Himmler in command. On Dec. 16, 1944, they attacked in the opening of the Battle of the Bulge. In Operation North Wind, Himmler ordered the recapture of Strasbourg. German troops assaulted across the Rhine and soon occupied a bridgehead including the towns of Herrlisheim, Drusenheim, and Offendorf. German troops in the Colmar Pocket also attacked north toward Strasbourg on January 7, inflicting painful losses on the French II Corps. Reinforced by elements of the 10th SS Panzer Division, the German troops in the Gambsheim bridgehead also held their own against counterattacks. However, by mid-January North Wind had become essentially defensive in nature.

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March 17, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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